“Workload structure was just unrealistic”— Alleged HYBE staff talks about "exhausting" work culture amid reported employee death cover-up controversy

On November 8, 2024, Biz Korea reported that HYBE Corporation has been facing public scrutiny after it was revealed that an employee allegedly died due to work overload. The case was exposed at the National Assembly Audit on October 15, 2024, when Progressive Party representative Jeong Kyung raised an issue regarding whether the company tried to hide the employee's death.

The publication interviewed another alleged HYBE employee who shed light on the work culture of the entertainment company—home to BTS, SEVENTEEN, LE SSERAFIM, Enhypen, TXT, and other renowned artists. The employee alleged that his colleagues would wish to get COVID rather than go to work as the "workload structure was just unrealistic."

"Because I experienced it myself. At the height of COVID, our team would sometimes wish we could catch the virus just to get a break. It was exhausting. This was back when I worked at Big Hit. The workload structure was just unrealistic."

Alleged HYBE worker reveals exhausting work culture. (Image via X/@juantokki)

The employee allegedly also said that he learned about the worker's death after a notice was issued on the company's bulletin board that an employee had taken their own life. They allegedly added that rumors were circulating within HYBE that it was due to overwork. They also reportedly claimed that there was a news article published on this but that it was taken down.

For the unversed, the employee passed away in September 2022 as a result of alleged overworking.

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HYBE accused of covering up an employee's death due to overwork amidst internal report controversy

The Ministry of Employment and Labor recognized HYBE as a "Top Job Creation Company” in May 2024. On October 15, the Environment and Labour Committee of the National Assembly conducted an audit with a focus on workplace harassment and bullying. Hanni from NewJeans and the new CEO of ADOR Kim Joo-young were two of the 35 people chosen to speak at the audit.

NewJeans' Hanni claimed that she felt mistreated after she overheard a HYBE manager tell another idol group of a subsidiary label to "ignore Hanni." She recounted the incident at the National Assembly Audit on October 15, 2024, when she was summoned as the witness for the label's alleged workplace bullying.

Hanni also claimed that she saw HYBE employees allegedly badmouthing NewJeans on the Blind app.

Later, on October 24, during the second National Assembly Audit, the company's internal report, consisting of demeaning remarks against other K-pop groups, was exposed by Democratic Party of Korea representative Min Hyun-bae.

On November 4, 2024, over 48,000 netizens signed a petition demanding HYBE's "Top Job Creation Company” status be revoked. The petition was filed on the official website of the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, on November 8, Biz Korea reported that the current employee disclosed that he and his team members had to work for days on end without being able to go home as the project approval from higher authorities would often get delayed.

Additionally, he reportedly claimed that he had to work for three to four nights at the office to complete the task.

"We worked together until 9 in the morning and then I thought it couldn't be done anymore. The company has a sleeping room and a massage chair. I slept in the massage chair with my team for about two hours. [...] Some colleagues were restless. Once I came to the company, I couldn't go home for three or four days and worked."

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Biz Korea reported that the entertainment company hasn't submitted documents regarding the label's working hours and structure requested by Progressive Party representative Jeong Hye-gyeong’s office.